Steam-engine.



No. 722,083. PATENTED MAR. 3,1903. J. J. BURKE.

k STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATION mum JAN. 21, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,.

f I WW m: NORRIS PETERS coy. PMo'rn-Lwua, msmuurnn. D- c.

No. 722,083. PATENTED MAR. 3 1903.

J. J. BURKE. v

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1902.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.- Invent-0v.- $Y5VM cfdlflgfl'lfilllk llniTnn MATES PATENTUFFMJE.

JAMES J. BURKE, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

STEAlVl-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,083, dated March 3,1908,

Application filed January 21 1902. Serial No. 90,649. (No model.)

To CbZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES J. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford andState of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to steam-engines, and has forits object theprovision of an improved turbine-engine.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision in a turbine-engine ofmeans for reversing the same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for stoppingthe idle rotation of the engine after the live steam has been cut offfrom the steam-chests.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for causingthe exhaust-steam from the high-pressure cylinders to aid in rotatingthe low-pressure cylinder.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth in the detaileddescription which now follows.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal verticalsection of my improved turbine-engine. Fig. 2 is a transverse verticalsection upon line a a of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 isa transverse verticalsectionupon line b b of Fig. 1.

Like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In my improved turbine-engine the numeral designates a base, upon whichis mounted a casing 21, composed of interior and exterior shells 22 and23, respectively. This casing 21 is divided into compartments ofdifferent diameters, the several compartments being, respectively,designated by the numerals 24, 25, 26, and 27, the three former of whichconstitute the high-pressure steamchests 28, 28, and 23 and the latterthe lowpressure steam-chest 28 At each end the .casin 21 is providedwith bearings 29 for the reception of the main shaft 30 of the engine,and said bearings are made steam-tight by the provision of packing 31.

The high-pressure steam-chests 28, 2S, and 23 are formed between theshells 22 and 23, and a low-pressure steam-chest 28 is formed in thecompartment 27 of said shells.

Mounted upon the shaft 30 of the engine,

through the medium of radial arms 30' or otherwise, are the rotativecylinders 32, 33, 34, and 35, the peripheries of said cylinders fittingsnugly against the interior surfaces of the compartments 24, 25, 26, and27 of the shell 22, and said cylinders 32, 33, and 34 constituting thehigh-pressure cylinders of the improved engine, while the cylinder 35constitutes the low-pressure cylinder of said engine.

Formed in the interior shell 22 and continued through the cylinders 32,33, 34, and 35 are steam-ports 36, each port comprising a receivingportion 37, formed partially in the shell 22 and partiallyin one of thecylinders, and a discharge portion 37', formed wholly in the cylinders,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The receiving portions 37 of these portsextend through the shell 22 and partially through the walls of thecylinders, forming thereby pockets or cups 38 in the faces of thecylinders, against the bottoms of which the steam impinges to aid inrotating said cylinders. The discharge portions 37 of said ports extendfrom the interior of the cylinders to the receiving-passages of saidports and connect with said receiving-passages at a point slightly abovethe bottoms of the pockets or cups 38, said discharge-passages 37 beingformed at an angle to the receiving-passages 37, though it is distinctlyto be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact form of portsherein described and that the angles may be varied or other minorchanges made without departure from the invention.

An exhaust chamber 40 is provided between the shells 22 and 23,intermediate the the high-pressure cylinder 34 and the lowpressurecylinder 35, said exhaust-chamber being provided with exhaust-ports 41,formed in the shell 22 and in the wall of the cylinder 34.TheseeXhaust-ports are similar to the steam-ports 36,excepting thattheyare formed in an opposite direction to said ports 36, as

illustrated in Fig. 3.

The exhaust-chamber 40 is divided into two compartments 42 and 43 bywalls or partitions 44, said compartments being connected by a by-pass45, provided with a valve 45 fora purpose hereinafter described.

Indicated at 46 is a live-steam pipe provided with a valve, (not shown,)said steampipe being in communication with the compartment 42 of theexhaust-chamber, said exhaust-chamber communicating with thelow-pressure steam-chest 28 through the medium of an auxiliarydischarge-pipe 47 and a live-steam pipe 48, said steam-pipe havingbranch pipes 49, 49, and 49 leading to the high-pressure steam-chests,and a drain or waste pipe 50, which is provided with a valve. (Notshown.)

The steam-pipe 48 is provided with an injector-nozzle 51, situatedbetween the branch pipe 49 and the auxiliary discharge-pipe 47, themouth or discharge-point of said nozzle projecting slightly beyond saidpipe 47 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The interior of the low-pressure cylinder 35 forms a low-pressureexhaust-chamber 53, in communication with which is the exhaustpipe 15.

The operation of the improved turbine-engine is as follows: When it isdesired to rotate the cylinders forward or in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 2, live steam is admitted to the high-pressuresteam-chests. through the main steam-supply pipe 48 and the branch pipes49, 49, and 49 and the steam entering the ports 36 and impinging atboiler-pressure against the bottoms of the pockets 38 will cause thecylinder to rotate to the right, said steam being discharged through thepassages 37 of said ports to the interior of the high pressurecylinders. While the cylinders are rotating in the abovedescribeddirection, the valves upon the steam-supply pipe 46 and the drain-pipe5O are closed, while the valve of the by-pass 45 is open to afford freecommunication between the compartments 42 and 43 of the exhaust-chamber.By providing the injectornozzle 51 in the steam-supply pipe 48 a vacuumis formed in the exhaust-chamber 40, and as the steam is exhausted intosaid chamber through the exhaust-ports 41 it is drawn into thelow-pressure steam-chest 28 where it aids in rotating the low-pressurecylinder 35 in the same manner that the high-pressure cylinders arerotated, and said steam passes from the interior of said lowpressurecylinder through the exhaust-pipe 15 to any device where it may beutilized or to the stack. Any water of condensation collecting in thehighpressure cylinders will be discharged directly into the interior ofthe low-pressure cylinder through ports 55, formed for that purpose inthe wall of said low-pressure cylinder, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Whenit is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the cylinders, andthereby the shaft 30, the main steam-supply valve 100 and the valve 45of the by-pass 45 are closed and the valve 101 upon the drain-pipe 50 isopened, after which steam is admitted by valve 46 through thesteam-supply pipe 46 at boilerpressu re to the compartment 42 of theexhaustcham ber,,where it enters the exhaust-ports 41,

and as these ports are formed, as before stated, in an oppositedirection to the steamports 36 it is evident that the cylinders will becaused to rotate to the left or in the direction of the arrow shown inFig. 3, the steam passing into the interior of the cylinders, as whenthe engine is rotating to the right, and exhausting through the ports 36into the steam-chests 28, 28, and 28 from whence it is dischargedthrough the drain -pipe 50, steam-supply pipe 48, and branch pipes 49,49 and 49 In the operation of turbine-engines of the class to which myinvention relates it frequently happens that after the steam-supply tothe cylinders has been shut off the inertia of the rapidly-rotatingcylinders will cause them and the shaft to which they are connected tospin around idly or rotate rapidly for some time, and in the practicaloperation of machines of this class it has been a desideratum to providemeans for overcoming this objection.

In my construction live steam when introduced in the manner abovedescribed to the compartment 42 of the exhaust-chamber 40 will, as isobvious, forcibly retard and finally stop this idle rotation of theengine by acting in a reverse direction to that of steam introduced inthe usual way, and finally, if desired, may act to rotate the engine ina reverse direction.

As above stated, the exhaust-chamber 40 is divided into two compartmentsby the walls or partitions 44, and these compartments are connected by aby-pass 45, having a valve 45, and when it is desired to brake theengine or finally to reverse it said valve 45 is closed, the valve 100in steam-pipe 48 is also closed, and the Valve 101 in drain-pipe 50 isopened. Valve 46 in live-steam pipe 46 is now opened and steam atboiler-pressure is admitted to compartment 42, enters ports 41, andowing to the reverse direction of said ports with relation to the ports36 of all the other cylinders tends to rotate the shaft 30 in anopposite direction, the exhaust escaping into the interior of theexhaust-chamber 40, which then acts as a reversing-cylinder, and,following the line of least resistance, flowing through the ports 41,pipes 47, and the ports of the high-pressure cylinders, theirsteam-chests, and piping connections to said drain-pipe 50. Owing to theloss of its energy in tending to brake or reverse the engine thepressure of the steam escaping into the high-pressure cylinders from thereversing-cylinder is insufficient to cause any appreciable retardinginfluence against the reversing force of thesteam at boiler pressuredelivered to the chest 40 by pipe 46. It therefore follows that when thesupply of steam to the high-pressure cylinders is shut-off and the steamfor braking and reversing is turned on free escape of the exhaust orlow-pressure steam is provided for in the construction described. Anywater of condensation collectveaoee ing in the reversingcylinder Willreadily pass oit, together with some exhaust-steam, through the ports55, leading to the low-pressure cylinder 35, from which it passes bypiping described to the drain-pipe 50.

The proportions of the braking and reversing cylinder may be varied asdescribed; but as is obvious from what has just been stated saidcylinder will act first to retard and finally stop the motion of theengine in normal direction and then to reverse the direction of rotationthereof, if desired.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided areliable and positivelyoperated turbine-engine which may be readilyreversed or stopped. It will be further seen that the exhaust-steam fromthe highpressure compartments or cylinders may be utilized in this formof turbine-engine to aid in rotating the low-pressure cylinder and thatmeans are provided for taking such exhauststeam from the exhaust chamberto the lowpressure steam-chest.

While the compartments or cylinders of the engine are shown of certainproportions, it is distinctly to be understood that said proportions maybe varied as circumstances require and that the size of theexhaust-cylinder may be changed from that illustrated to one of largerproportions, if desired. So, too, the forms of the ports for admittingand exhaust ing steam may vary from those shown, and the means forcausing the motive fluid to be discharged from the cylinders andexhaustchamber and the form and arrangement of said cylinders may bechanged Without departure from the invention and any desired number ofcylinders may be employed, the invention not being limited in thisrespect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. Thecombination, with a shell having inclined pockets and exhaust-ports, ofmeans for supplying steam to the pockets; a retarding and reversingcompartment carried by the shell, said compartment having pocketsreversely inclined with relation to those of the shell, and also havingexhaust-ports leading from said pockets; and means for supplying steamto said compartment.

2. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a series of steam-chestsof different sizes; means for supplying steam to said steam-chests;ports in the inner wall of said casing; a shell having a series ofcompartments of different sizes mounted for rotation within the casing;means carried by the shell for receiving the impact of steam from theports in the stean1-chests; and exhaust-ports in the shell.

3. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having stea m-chests 5 means forsupplying live steam to said steam-chests; ports in the inner Walls ofthe steam-chests; a shell having compartments provided with pocketscommunicating with said ports, said shell being mounted for rotationwithin the casing; exhaustports leading from said pockets to theinterior of the shell; a steam-chest for receiving exhaust-steam fromsaid compartments, said steam-chest having ports; and a compartment ofthe shell having pockets communieating with the ports of theexhaust-steam chest, and also having exhaust-ports leading from saidpockets.

4. A turbine-engine comprising a series of steam-chests for receivingsteam; ports in the inner wall of each of said steam-chests; means forsupplying steam to the steam-chests; a shell having compartmentsprovided with pockets communicating with the ports in the steain-chests,said compartments also having exhaust ports leading from said pockets;means for supporting the shell within the casing; a speed retarding andreversing compartment carried by the shell and having pockets andexhaust-ports; a steam-chest having ports communicating with saidpockets; and means for supplying steam to said steam-chest.

5. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having steam-chests, eachsteam-chest being provided with ports; a shell mounted for rotationwithin the casing, and havinga series of compartments provided withpockets communicating with the ports of the steam-chest, and withexhaust-ports leading from said pockets; a speed retarding and reversingcompartment; a steam-chest having ports com municating with saidcompartment; means carried by said compartment for receiving the impactof steam from said steam-chest; and ports for exhausting the steam fromsaid compartment.

6. A turbine-engine comprising a steamchest, having ports; means forsupplying steam to said steam-chest; arotary shell having pocketscommunicating with the ports of the steam-chest; a speed retarding andreversing compartment carried by the shell; a steam-chest having portsg'means carried by the speed retarding and reversing compartment forreceiving the impact of steam from the ports of the steam-chest;exhaust-ports in said speed retarding and reversing compartment; andmeans for supplying steam to said speed retarding and reversingcompartment.

7. A turbine-engine comprising a steamchest having ports; means forsupplying steam to said steam-chest; a rotary device having pocketscommunicating with the ports of the steam-chest, and also havingexhaustports leading from said pockets; a speed retarding and reversingdevice having pockets and exhaust-ports; a steam-chesthaving portscommunicating with the pockets of said speed retarding and reversingdevice; and means for supplying steam to said steam-chest.

8. A turbine'engine comprising a casing containing a steam-chest havinga series of inclined ports; a shell mounted for rotation within saidcasing and having a series of inclined pockets communicating with theports of the steam-chest, and also having a series of exhaust-portsleading from said pockets to the interior of the shell; means forsupplying steam to said steam-chest; and means for exhausting the steamfrom said shell.

9. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a series of steam-chests,each steamchest being perforated in its inner wall to form ports; ashell having compartments provided with pockets communicating with theports of the steam-chests and with exhaustports leading from saidpockets; a shaft journaled in the casing and to which said shell issecured; and means for exhausting the steam from said shell.

10. A turbine-engine comprising a casing; a series of steam-chestscarried by the casing and each having discharge-ports; means forsupplying steam individually to each of the steam-chests; a shellmounted for rotation within the casing and having a series ofcompartments provided with pockets communicating with the ports of thesteam-chests, and with exhaust-ports leading from said pockets to theinterior of the shell; an exhaust-compartment of the shell provided withpockets and exhaust-ports; and means for supplying steam exhausted fromthe other compartments to said exhaust-compartment.

11. A turbine-engine comprising a casing provided With steam-chests ofdifferent diameters, each steam-chest having a series ofdischarge-ports; a steam-pipe, branches from said steam-pipe leading tothe steamchests; and a shell mounted for rotation Within the casing andhaving a series of compartments provided with pockets communicating withthe discharge-ports of the steam-chest and with exhaust-ports leadingfrom said pockets.

12. A turbine-engine comprising a steamchest having a series ofdischarge-ports; a rotary shell having a series of pockets communicatingwith said discharge-ports, and also having exhaust-ports leading fromsaid pockets; an auxiliary steam-chest adjacent to the other steam-chestand having a series of discharge-ports; a speed retarding and reversingcompartment having a series of pockets communicating with saiddischarge-ports, and a series of exhaust-ports leading from saidpockets; and means for supplying steam to said compartment to retard,and finally reverse, the motion of the engine.

13. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having steam-chests, the latterprovided with discharge-ports; a shell mounted for rotation within thecasing and having a series of pockets communicating with thedischarge-ports of the steam-chests, said shell also havingexhaust-ports leading from said pockets; a steam-supply pipe having abranch communicating With the steam-chests; and means for forciblyexhausting the steam from the shell.

14:. A turbine-engine comprising a steamchest having discharge-ports; asteam-supply pipe communicating with said steam-chest; a rotary shellhaving a series of pockets commu nicating with the ports of thesteam-chests, and also having a series of exhaust-ports leading fromsaid pockets; and means carried by the steam-supply pipe for exhaustingsteam from the shell.

15. A turbine-engine comprising a steamchest having discharge-ports; asteam-supply pipe communicating with said steam-chest; a rotary shellhaving a series of pockets communicating with the ports of thesteam-chest, and also having a series of exhaust-ports leading from saidpockets; and an injector-nozzle carried by the steam-supply pipe forexhausting steam from said shell.

16. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a series ofsteam-chests, each provided with discharge-ports; a shell having aseries of compartments mounted for rotation within said casing, eachcompartment having a series of pockets, and also having a series ofexhaust-ports leading from said pockets; a steam-supply pipe havingbranches communicating with the steam-chests; an injectornozzle Withinthe steam-supply pipe; and an exhaust-pipe leading from the casing.

17. A turbine-engine comprising a steamchest, means for supplying steamto said steam-chest; inclined ports leading from the steam-chest; arotary shell having inclined pockets communicating with the ports of thesteam-chest, and also having exhaust-ports leading from said pockets; anauxiliary steam-chest having ports of reverse inclination to those ofthe main steam-chest; and an auxiliary compartment adjacent to the shelland having pockets of reverse inclination to those of the shell, andexhaust-ports leading from said pockets; and means for supplying steamto said auxiliary steam-chest.

18. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a series ofsteam-chests, each provided with discharge ports; means for supplyingsteam directly to each of said steam-chests; a shell having a series ofcompartments provided with pockets communicating with the ports of thesteam'chests, and also provided with a series of exhaust-ports leadingfrom said pockets; ashatt journaled in the casing and to which saidshell is secured; a reversing-compartment carried by the shell; meansfor supplying steam to said reversing-compartment; and means forexhausting steam from the various compartments of said shell.

19. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a series of steam-chestsfor the reception of steam under boiler-pressure, and also having asteam-chest for the reception of exhaust'steam; discharge-ports in eachof said steam-chests; a shell mounted for rotation Within the casing andhaving a series of compartments,each compartment having pocketscommunicating with the discharge-ports of the steam-chests; and meansfor supplying exhaust-steam from the shell to said exhauststeam chest.

20. A turbine-engine comprising a highpressure steam-ch est havingdischarge-ports; an exhaust or low-pressure steam-chest havingdischarge-ports; an auxiliary steam-chest located between the exhaustand high-pressure steam-chests; a shell having a compartment providedwith pockets in communication with the ports of the high-pressuresteamchest, and with a compartment having pockets in communication withthe ports of the low-pressure steam-chest; a compartment intermediatethe high-pressure and low-pressure compartments, and also having pocketscommunicating with the discharge-ports of the auxiliary steam-chest;means for supplying steam to the auxiliarysteam-chest; means forsupplying steam at boiler-pressure to the high-pressure steam-chest; andmeans for supplying exhaust-steam to the low-pressure steam-chest.

21. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a series ofhigh-pressure steam-chests and a low-pressure steam-chest;dischargeports in each of said steam-chests; a shell having a series ofhigh-pressure compartments provided with pockets communicating with theports of the high-pressure steamchests; a low-pressure compartmenthaving pockets communicating with the ports of the low-pressuresteam-chest; means forexhausting steam from the high and low pressurecompartments; an auxiliary compartment carried by the shell, and locatedbetween one of the high-pressure compartments and the low-pressurecompartment of said shell, said auxiliary compartment having pockets anddischarge-ports communicating With said pockets; an auxiliary steam-chest having ports communicating with the pockets of the auxiliarycompartment of the shell; means for supplying steam to said auxiliarysteamchests; means for supplying steam to the high-pressure steam-chest;and means for supplying exhaust-steam to the low-pressure steam-chest.

22. In a turbine-engine, the combination with means for rotating saidengine in a forward direction; of a rotary shell having a series ofpockets and a series of exhaust-ports leading from said pockets; a steamchest having ports communicating with the pockets of said shell, saidsteam-chest being divided into compartments; and means for connectingthe compartments of said steam-chest with each other.

23. In a turbineengine, the combination, with means for rotating saidengine in a forward direction, of a rotary shell having a series ofpockets and a series of exhaust-ports leading from said pockets; a steamchest having ports communicating with the pockets of said shell, saidsteam-chest being divided into compartments; a by-pass connecting thecompartments of said steam-chest with each other; and a valve in saidby-pass.

24. A turbine-engine comprising a casing havinga series of high-pressure steam-chests,

each provided with discharge-ports; a rotary shell having a series ofcompartments, each provided with pockets communicating with thedischargeports of the steam-chest, and each having exhaust-ports leadingfrom said pockets; means for supplying high-pressure steam to said steam-chest; a low-pressure steam-chest carried by the casing and havingdischarge-ports; means forsupplyingexhauststeam to said low'pressuresteam-chest; acompartmentcarried by the shelland havingpocketscommunicating with the discharge-ports of the low-pressure steam-chest,said compartment also having exhaust-ports communicating with saidpockets; and an injector for forcing exhaust-steam into saidlow-pressure steam-chest.

25. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having aseries of high-pressuresteam-chests, each provided with discharge-ports, and a lowpressuresteam-chest having discharge-ports; a shell having a series of pocketscommunicating with the discharge-ports of said steamchests, also havinga series of exhaust-ports leading from said pockets to the interior ofthe shell; a shaft mounted in the casing and to which the shell isconnected; an auxiliary steam-chest carried by the casing; and a speedretarding and reversing compartment carried by the shell.

26. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a series of high-pressure steam-chests provided with discharge-ports of one inclination; ahigh-pressu re st earn-chest having discharge-ports of reverseinclination to those of the other steam-chests; a shell having a seriesof compartments provided with pockets communicating with thedischarge-ports of main steam-chest, and also having a compartmentprovided with pockets communicating With the discharge ports of theauxiliary steam-chest; exhaust-ports leading from the pockets of each ofsaid compartments; a highpressure steam-supply pipe; an injector carriedby said pipe; a low-pressure steam-chest having discharge-ports intowhich the exhaust-steam is forced by the injector; a compartment carriedby the shell and having pockets communicating with the dischargeports ofthe low-pressure steam-chest, and exhaust-ports leading from saidpockets to the interior of said compartment.

27. A turbine-engine comprising a casing having a high-pressuresteam-chest provided with discharge-ports; means for supplying steam tosaid high-pressure steam-chest; a rotary shell having pocketscommunicating with the dischargeports of the high-pressure steam-chest,and also having exhaust-ports leading from said pockets; an auxiliaryhighpress u re stea m-chest provided with dischargeports; means forsupplying steam to said auxiliary steam-chest; a compartment of theshell having pockets communicating with the discharge-ports of theauxiliary steam-chest, and also having exhaust-ports leading from saidpockets, the wall of said compartment being perforated to permit theescape of the water of condensation; means for dividing the auxiliaryhigh-pressure steam-chest into compartments; a by-pass connecting thecompartments of said steam-chest; a valve in said by-pass; an injectorfor Withdrawing exhaust-steam from said steam-chests; and

an exhaustpipe leading from the casing of the engine.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JAMES J. BURKE. Witnesses:

FRANCES E. BLODGETT, FRANK G. CAMPBELL.

